Microsoft KB Archive/234749

Knowledge Base

How to Restore the Windows Default Fonts

Article ID: 234749

Article Last Modified on 1/24/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows 95

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This article was previously published under Q234749

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article explains how to restore the default Microsoft Windows fonts. These steps may be used to resolve a problem caused by corrupted or incompatible fonts.

NOTE: These steps remove all fonts that are not included with the default Windows installation.

MORE INFORMATION

To remove all fonts from the computer and restore the original Windows fonts, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Step 1: Export and Remove the Fonts Registry Key

1. Quit all running programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. In Registry Editor, expand the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Fonts

5. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
6. In the Export Registry File dialog box, type C:\FontKey in the File name box, and then click Save.
7. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
   
   You receive the following message:

   Are you sure you want to delete this key?

8. Click Yes.
   
   The Fonts registry subkey is removed.
9. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

Step 2: Create a Temporary Fonts Folder

1. Start Windows Explorer.
2. Navigate to the C:\Windows folder.
3. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder.
4. In the New Folder name box, type NewFonts, and then press ENTER.
5. Quit Windows Explorer.

Step 3: Extract the Original Windows Fonts to the Temporary Folder

Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)

1. Insert the Windows 98 compact disc into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type command, and then click OK.
4. At the command prompt, type Extract /a /e drive:\Win98\Win98_22.cab *.ttf /l C:\Windows\NewFonts (where drive is the drive letter of your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive), and then press ENTER.
   
   For example:

   Extract /a /e D:\Win98\Win98_22.cab *.ttf /l C:\Windows\NewFonts <ENTER>

   The font files are extracted.
   
   

   NOTE: In the preceding command, l is a lowercase L.
5. Type Extract /a /e drive:\Win98\Win98_22.cab *.fon /l C:\Windows\NewFonts, and the press ENTER.
   
   The font files are extracted.
6. Type Extract /a /e drive:\Win98\Win98_22.cab Desktop.ini /l C:\Windows\NewFonts, and the press ENTER.
   
   The Desktop.ini file is extracted.
7. Type Exit.
   
   You return to Windows.

Microsoft Windows 95

1. Insert the Windows 95 compact disc into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type command, and then click OK.
4. At the command prompt, type Extract /a /e drive:\Win95\Win95_02.cab *.ttf /l C:\Windows\NewFonts (where drive is the drive letter of your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive), and then press ENTER.
   
   For example:

   Extract /a /e D:\Win95\Win95_02.cab *.ttf /l C:\Windows\NewFonts <ENTER>

   The font files are extracted.
   
   

   NOTE: In the preceding command, l is a lowercase L.
5. Type Extract /a /e drive:\Win95\Win95_02.cab *.fon /l C:\Windows\NewFonts, and the press ENTER.
   
   The font files are extracted.
6. Type Extract /a /e drive:\Win98\Win95_02.cab Desktop.ini /l C:\Windows\NewFonts, and the press ENTER.
   
   The Desktop.ini file is extracted.
7. Type Exit.
   
   You return to Windows.

Step 4: Rename the Fonts Folders in MS-DOS Mode

1. Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode. To do this, click Start, and then click Shut Down. In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart in MS-DOS mode, and then click OK.
2. At the C:\Windows prompt, type Attrib -s Fonts, and then press ENTER.
3. Type Ren Fonts OldFonts, and then press ENTER.
4. Type Ren NewFonts Fonts, and then press ENTER.
5. Type Attrib +s Fonts, and then press ENTER.

Step 5: Rename the ttfcache File

1. At the command prompt, type Attrib -h ttfcache, and then press ENTER.
2. Type Rename ttfcache oldcache, and then press ENTER.

Step 6: Restart Windows and Open the Fonts Folder

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
   

The computer restarts.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type C:\Windows\Fonts, and then click OK.
3. In the Fonts dialog box, click Close on the File menu.

Keywords: kbhowto kbinfo KB234749

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